Home security video system using internet technique

Abstract

A security system including several camera devices and a communication device in sites at which monitoring is required by a user. The several camera devices may constantly monitor the sites. The camera devices have motion detecting functions and provide unusual status reporting signals and necessary image information to the communications device when the movements of an intruder have been detected. The communication device communicates with and is connected to a server that serves as an information center via the internet line when unusual status signals have been received. The information from the camera devices is also sent to server. The server automatically notifies the user by a predetermined user-selected method. The notified user can access the server and confirm the information.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY[0001]This application claims priority under 35 USC §119 from Japanese Application No. 2000-365915, filed on Nov. 30, 2000.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]This invention relates to a security system, and, in particular, it relates to a security system which is a system for home security that is provided with communication functions of detecting illegal intruders from outside and reporting this information to those to whom it is necessary.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Many conventional home security systems are systems for detecting whether or not there is an intruder by means of various sensors, which are installed in places for preventing crime. Most of such sensors utilize infrared radiation, and if something unusual happens, it is reported. For example, when an illegal intruder appears, the sensors detect it and send unusual signals to a centralized monitoring center using public telephone lines (including cell-phone...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019]Namely, according to the security system of this invention, several camera devices and communication devices are installed in sites at which monitoring is necessary for the user. When the security mode is turned on, the several camera devices operate so that specified positions of the site are monitored. Each camera device itself has a function of motion detection. The unusual status reporting signals and the necessary imaging information are provided to the communication means only when the camera device detects the motion of an intruder. Because the images taken by the camera devices are the major criteria for judgment, the number of error reports can be decreased. The communication means is connected to the server that acts as an information center using the internet line only when an unusual status reporting signal has been received from a camera device and the information from the camera device is also provided to the server means at this time. The image is transmitted at the same time as the abnormality information or after transmission has been completed. At this time, the server means can automatically inform the user or another person by a method that can be selected by the user in advance. The user who has been informed, can access to the server means and check the detailed information regarding the unusual status from at least one image. As a result, the system can be constructed comparatively simply and inexpensively and is also easy for the user to use.

[0020]A user who has been notified can access the communication means through the web server and can confirm image information and other information from each camera. At this time, the system is constructed so that the user can control each camera device remotely from the user terminal. At this time, the server means can select a suitable internet service provider so that the fees required for public telephone lines among the communication lines necessary for the purpose of control can be kept at a minimum.

Problems solved by technology

However, the greatest problem in this system is that we can not have sufficient confidence about an intruder solely from the sensor signals.

Therefore, these measures are in vain in such instances.

This system also entails problems to be improved.

The first problem is that, although reporting information is transmitted promptly by means of this system, it also contains undesired or redundant information that are added to the requested information.

As a result, excessive time is required for the user to have a confidence as to the presence of an intruder.

For this reason, users who need information rapidly find above one is inconvenient and the communication costs for transmission of information is comparatively high.

The second problem is that it was difficult to control multiple cameras, which are installed in sites to be monitored.

Conventionally, there was no system that could make reports where multiple monitoring cameras were used.

The third problem relates to a function of saving image data.

In this case, it is difficult to promptly pick up required video images and there are limits to memory capacity.

Further, as described in above patent publication, installing an image recording device in the place to be monitored is not necessarily for preventing advantage.

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